Compensator for hoisting apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet yl Ker' R. c v. O e E X m u m w Eg. n n t um y wf U oJuly 28, 1936 o. E. UECKER COMPENSATOR FOR HOISTING' APPARATUS originalFile'd'July 18, 1952 Jly 28, 1936.

` o. E. UECKER COMPENSATOR FR HOISTING APPARATUS rigina-Filed July 18,1932 s sheets-sheet 2 FIG'- 2.

` INVENTOR.

Otto E. Uecker July 28, 1936. o. E. DECKER COMPINSTOR FOR HOISTINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 18j "1932,

INVENTOR. Otto E. Uecker ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, i936 Otto 1E. Uecker, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to YA. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of New York Application `luly 18, 1932, Serial No. 623,178

Renewed June 20, 1934 15 Claims.

The invention relates generally to compensating apparatus for adjustingmachine parts that are utilized to perform working operations indifferent temperatures.

The object of the invention is to provide for compensating for changesin size of the parts of apparatus utilized for performing workoperations in atmospheres at different temperatures.

lIt is also an object of the invention to provide u) compensatingapparatus for machine parts used in different temperatures that may bereadily adjusted to meet predetermined conditions.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a View partly in section and partly in side elevation ofhoisting apparatus 'showing 2O parts which, during operation, areexposed to different temperatures;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the hoistingapparatus showing a compensating device constructed in accordance withmy invention applied thereto for adjusting parts of the hoistingapparatus;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the carriage of the hoistingapparatus in a lower position than in Fig. 2 showing the electricalcircuits interf-o rupted;

Fig. 4 is a View in front elevation of a portion of therhoistingapparatus shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the relation of the members ofthe structure;

YFig. 5 is a View in side elevation of a switch comprising a part of thecompensating apparatus showing the manner in which it is mounted;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the adjusting means providedfor my compensating apparatus; and

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of the controlling system for mycompensating apparatus.

In the process of enameling pipe and other heavy articles, it isnecessary to provide hoisting apparatus and conveyors for moving thearticles through the spraying apparatus, furnaces, and treatingchambers. The temperatures of the atmospheres in the spraying booth,furnace, and spaces in-between differ greatly. The pipe before it entersthe furnace is subjected to atmospheric temperatures, While in thefurnace the temperatures may be as high as 1800 or 1900 F.

The hoisting and conveying apparatus utilized for handling the pipe isalso subjected to different 551 temperatures and Will change in size` Inthis particular enameling apparatus, the hoisting mechanismer elevatorsand their hangers require compensating devices to adjust them when theychange in size as a result of the temperatures. If compensatingapparatus is not provided, the 5 elevators would not always transfer thepipe to the proper level for delivery to the conveyor system.

Referring now to the drawings and Fig. 1 in particular, i o designatesgenerally a suitable hoist- 10 ing apparatus or elevator for lowering orraising a pipe e from a furnace such as II or bath I2. The furnace isusually provided for fusing the enamel while the bath is utilized foi`quenching the enameled pipe. 15 The hoisting apparatus 0r elevator IIIcomprises a plurality of endless chains i3 which may be driven in anysuitable manner, such as by a motor not shown, a car i4 disposed to movein guide rails I5, shown best in Fig. 2, and a plu- 2o rality of hangersI6. The car Ill is actuated by the chains i3. The hangers I6 are longenough to permit the lowering of the pipe through the furnace into thebath I2.

In lowering the pipe through the furnace, the 25 hangers it are exposedto the furnace heat and they change considerably in temperature as theyare moved into and out of the furnace. If compensating means were notprovided, these rods would not always return the pipe 9 and truck 8 3oto the same level and as a result the trucks would not register with therails i9 of the conveyor system. The conveyor system has three differenthorizontal conveyor tracks, one above another, as illustrated in Fig. 1,the center track I9 being :5 adapted to convey the pipe 9 through thefurnace II, the upper track le being adapted to convey the pipe 9 to andaway from the treating apparatus, and the lower track i9 being adaptedto convey the pipe 9 thro-ugh the bath I2. 40

Referring noW to Figs. 2 and 3, the hangers I6 which depend from the carI 4 comprise a short rod Il journalled in a bracket I8 carried by thecar` I4 and a longer rod Il connected to the shorter rod by means of athreaded buckle 20. 45 The insertion of the threaded buckle between thetwo rods provides means for adjusting one relativeto the other. Asillustrated, the buckle 20 is fixed with relation to the rod Il and whenrotated inY one direction it will decrease the over-all length 50 of thehanger, While when rotated in the opposite direction it will increasethe length of the hanger. The long rod Il' is disposed to slide inguides 2| mounted on the elevator car and to prevent it from rotating,when the rod I'I is rotated, a spline 5 22 is provided. The spline maybe of any ordinary type well known in the art.

The hangers I6 are provided at their lower ends with crossheads 23 forcarrying the trucks 8. In order to facilitate the transfer of the trucks8 to and from the hangers I6, oppositely disposed crossheads 23 areprovided with a pair of short rail sections 24. When the hangers are ofthe proper length, the rails carried thereby will register with therails of the conveyor system when the elevator cars are actuated to thedifferent predetermined levels.v

The trucks 8 may be retained in position with the rail sections 24 inany suitable manner.. A'A

simple method of retaining them centrally located on the rail sections24 is to provide depressions in the rail sections for the wheels` of thetruck. These depressions do not need to'be very deep since a heavyweight is usually suspended from the trucks.

In order to measure the length ofthe hanger I 6 when it is being raisedfrom the furnace to receive or deliver a truck and pipe from or to therails I9 of the conveyor system, a measuringstick or bar 25` isprovided. This measuring stick is preferably made from such metal asinvar, which has a very Small coeflicient of expansion, so that itschanges in length as a result of the temperature range to which itissubjected are negligible. This measuring stick is supported on theelevator guide rails I and does not enter the furnace. As a result, thetemperature range to which it is subjecteds small.

The measuring stick is supported in sleeve brackets 26 which are carriedby the guide rails I5 and may reciprocate in these sleeves. The downwardmovement of the measuring stick is limited by a collar 21 fixed theretoand disposed to seat on the upper sleeve bracket 26. In

the installation of the structure made, the.

movement of the measuring stick was limited to about four feet.

On the lower end of the measuring stick, an inwardly extending finger 28is provided which is disposed to be engaged by anoutwardly extendingnger 2S provided on the hanger I6. Therefore when the hanger is drawnupwardly out of the furnace, the finger 29 will engage the finger 28provided on the measuring stick and raise it.

Therefore when the hanger vI6 is withdrawn from the furnace to the pointwhere it picks up the measuring stick 25, the two stand in parallel andfixed relation to one another. If the hanger has been elongated orshortened as a result of a change in temperature, the difference inlength between it and the measuring stick may be utilized for initiatingthe operation of some suitable mechanism for rotating the upper sectionI1 of the hanger and the buckle 20 to change itsY overall length.

In order to operate the buckle 20, a motor 30 is mounted on the elevatorcar I4 and connected to the upper section I1 of the hanger I6 through atrain of gears 3|. Therefore by operating the motor in the desireddirection, the length of the hanger may be increased or decreased.

Referring n ow to Figs. 5 and 6, a switch shown generally at 32 ismounted on the measuring stick 25 for controlling the direction ofrotation of the motor 3B. As illustrated, the switch comprises two uppercontact fingers 33 and two lower contact fingers 34 disposed in fixedrelation on the measuring stick 25. A switch arm 35 is pivotally mountedat 36 on a frame carried by the measuring stick and is provided with abridging member 31 disposed to bridge either pair of contact fingersdepending on the direction in which the switch arm is actuated. Asillustrated, a spring 38 is disposed 5 to bias the left end of the arm35 downwardly projecting the bridging plate 31 into engagement with thecontact ngers 33. 'I'he switch arm 35 extends through a slot 39 providedin the measuring stick 25. This guides the switch l0 arm 35 and givesrigidity to the whole switch structure.`

AsY illustrated in Fig. 5 a cam disk 40 is mounted on the elevator car.In this instance a bracket 4I is attached to the car frame at 42 in l5any suitable manner and has a threaded opening for receiving a post 43.The cam disk 46 is rotatablymounted at the upper end of the post 43. A

spring 44 biases the cam disk 40 against the post and retains it in anyposition in which it 20 may be seti' The cam disk is provided with eightfaces at different distances from its pivot point 45, which l permitseight adjustments. The cam disk is disposed to engage the switch arm 35and co- 35 operate with the measuring stick 25 in eiecting switchingoperations.

In order to supply current to the motor 30, a plurality of shoes 46 aremounted on structural columns adjacent the guide rails I5 at predeimtermined positions to engage the conductor bars 41 mounted on theelevator carriage I4. The conductor barsl I1v are short and only engagethe shoes throughout the upper portion lof the movement of the elevatorcar.

In order to prevent the making and breaking of live circuits at thecontact fingers 33 and 34 or shoes 46, a control switch 48 is mounted onone ofthe guide rails I5. When switch 48 is opened allv the circuits aredeenergized.

'I'he control switch 48, as best shown in Fig. 1, comprises a bell crankand contact member for bridging a plurality of contact fingers. In orderto actuate the switch 48 when the elevator is moving upwardly, a` shoe49' is mounted therei5` on to engage the outwardly extending switch armnear the upper limit of travel of the elevator. The shoe 43 is slightlyshorter than the bars 4-1 so that the bars engage their respective shoes46 in advance to the closing of control 50 switch 48.

A reversing switch 50 for controlling the direction of rotation of themotor 3!) is also mounted on a structural column of the buildingadjacent the guide rails I5 in a predetermined 55 position. Thereversing switch is of any usual type 'andi its operationv will bedescribed in detail in connection with the circuit diagram illustratedin Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the motor is the only partofthe compensating mechanism carried by the elevator car. The measuringstick 25 and the relay switch-32 thereon are disposedto move about fourfeet. The latter is electrically connected to the reversing switch 50,whichA is disposed in a fixed position, by flexible' conductors 55-v and51- disposed therebetween;

Assuming now that the fusing of the enamel on the pipe 9 has beencompleted in the furnace II and that the pipe is being lowered into thebath 70 I2, the hangers I6 are then lowered through'the furnace andareexposed to the-furnacetempermture. The heating of the hanger I6 effectsan elongation of the rods, particularly thel rod I1. When the elevatorcar is lmoved upwardlyythelhangers will not bring the rail sections 24into register with the rail sections I9 so that another truck 8 may betransferred thereto.

As the elevator car is moved upwardly, the

finger 29 engages the finger 28 of the measuring stick and carries itupwardly. About the same time that the measuring stick is picked up bythe hanger i6, the cam di! carried by the elevator car engages theswitch arm 35. Since the hanger has increased in length, it is longerthan the measuring stick 25 and the switch arm 35 is actuated clockwiseabout its pivot point 35 projecting the bridging plate 3l intoengagement with the contact ngers 35. The operation of the switch arm 35is against the biasing force of the spring 3S. As the elevator carprogresses upwardly carrying with it the hanger, measuring stick, andswitch 32, the conductor bars LV engage the shoes 136. The switch 53 isthen operated, closing the line switch l and the motor 3@ is started.The direction in which the motor rotates is predetermined andconnections made so that the buckle 25 is turned in the proper directionto shorten the hanger i6. As the hanger is shortened, the switch 32 iscarried upwardly until the motor circuit is interrupted.

Referring now to 7, when the line switch 5| is closed, a circuit isestablished which extends from the power source 52, through conductor53, line switch conductor 5d, the actuating coil of lower switch 55 ofthe reversing switch 55, flexible conductor 56, contact ngers 34 bridgedby the plate 3l, flexible conductor 51, and conductor 5B, back to thepower source. The switch 55 is actuated and establishes an armaturecircuit for the motor which may be traced from the energized conductorSii, through the upper pole of switch 55, conductor 59, one of the shoes135, to a conductor bar il', through the armature of the motor 3E), backthrough another conducto-r bar M, shoe 16, conductor t5, and the lowerpole of the switch 55 to the negatively energized conductor 58.

When the conductor bars li are in contact with the shoes 55, the fieldof the motor 3S is connected directly across the power source 52. Inthis instance the field of the motor 3S is not reversed in order toreverse the rotation of the armature, but instead provision is made forreversing the armature current. This results in more positive stoppingof the motor when the motor circuit is interrupted.

When the motor is started, it turns the buckle 25 and raises the rod il'of the hanger reducing 1 the over-all length of the latter. As the rodl'i is moved upwardly, it carries with it the measuring stick Z5. As theswitch 32 is raised with the measuring stick, the switch arm swings intoits neutral position interrupting the motor circuit.

If the hanger is too short when the elevator car moves upwardly, the cam4) when it engages switch arm 35 will not actuate the bridging member 31out or" engagement with the iingers 33. Therefore when the shoes 56 areengaged by the conductor bars lil, the actuating coil for the uppersection of the reversing switch 50 will be energized and a motor circuitestablished causing the rotation of the motor armature in the properdirection to eiect a lengthening of the hanger through the operation ofthe buckle 2i).

If the elevator car moves downwardly while the motor 35 is running, thecircuit will be interrupted when the shoe i9 releases the switch i8 andinterrupts the actuating circuit of the line switch 5l.

If there isany arcing as a result of this interruption, it is taken bythe line switch 5 l.

The length of the measuring stick 25 and the setting of the cam lll willdepend on the level at which the hangers deliver the truck 8. Adjust- 5ments may be effected by rotating the cam disk 45.

The throw of the switch arm 35 will depend upon the space between thecollars 5l on the measuring stick 25 and the bracket 62 which eX- tendsto the right from the bracket 4l and the distance between the switchframe and the nuts on the eye-bolt E3 which carries the spring 38.' Thethrow of the switch arm may be adjusted to meet operating conditions.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction, anddifferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall beinterpreted 20 as illustrative and not in a limiting sense,

I claim:

l. A compensating device for apparatus provided with members whichchange in size with changes in temperature, comprising means foradjusting a member in accordance with its change in size to set apredetermined part in the same relation to other parts of the apparatuswhen a change in size takes place, and means responsive to changes insize of the member for initiating an adjusting operation.

2, A compensating device for apparatus provided with members whichchange in size with changes in temperature, comprising means foradjusting the member relative to the remaining members of the apparatusto set a predetermined part in the proper relation to the other parts ofthe apparatus each time there has been a change size, and a measuringdevice for measuring the size of the member subjected to changes intemperature for initiating an adjusting operation when there has been achange in size.

3. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided with adepending hanger for transferring articles from one level to another inatmospheres at different temperatures, comprising means for adjustingthe depending hanger when there has been a change in length resultingfrom changes in temperature to provide for the delivery of the articlesat a predetermined level, and means responsive to changes in length ofthe hanger for initiating an operation of the adjusting means.

4. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided with memberssubject to changes in size with changes in temperature for transferringarticles from one level to another, comprising means for adjusting saidmembers when there has been a change in size to provide for deliveringthe articles at a predetermined level, a measuring device for measuringthe size of the member subjected to changes in temperature, and meansdisposed to be actuated by said measuring device for initiating theoperation of said adjusting means.

5. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus which operates inatmospheres at different temperatures, comprising means for adjustingthe hoisting apparatus to a predetermined size when there has been achange from that size as 70 a result of changes in temperature, andmeans automatically operable upon a change in size of the hoistingapparatus to initiate the operation of the adjusting means.

6. A compensating device for hoisting appa- 75 ating the operation ofthe adjusting means.

7. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided with adepending hanger for delivering articles at a predetermined level,comprising means for varying the length of the hanger, a motor fordriving said means for varying the length of the hanger, means formeasuring the length of the hanger, and means disposed to be actuated bysaid measuring means when the hanger is too short or too long forinitiating the operation of the motor to eiTect adjustment of the hangerto a predetermined length.

8. In a compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided with hangersfor transferring articles from one level to another in atmospheres 'of'different temperatures, in combination, means for measuring the lengthof the hanger, means for adjusting the length of the hanger, and meansdisposed to be actuated by the measuring means when the hanger is tooshort or too long for ini- Itiating the operation of the adjustingmeans.

9. A compensating device for apparatus provided With depending hangersfor transferring articles through atmospheres at diiferent temperaturesto a predetermined level, comprising imeans for lengthening orshortening the hanger,

means for measuring the length of the hanger, a motor for driving themeans for lengthening or shortening the hanger, and means carried by themeasuring means for initiating the operation of the motor in eitherdirection depending on Whether the hanger should be lengthened orshortened.

10. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided With adepending hanger for transferring articles from one level to anotherthrough atmospheres at diiferent temperatures, means for lengthening orshortening the hanger to adjust it to a predetermined length when it hasbeen distorted by the temperatures', means for measuring the length ofthe hanger, said measuring means being substantially unresponsive tochanges in temperature withinthe range to which it may be heated by thehanger, means for adjusting the measuring means to measure anypredetermined length, and means disposed to be actuated by the measuringmeans to initiate a change in'length of the hanger.

11. A compensating device for hoisting apparatus provided with a hangerfor transferring articles through atmospheres at diierent temperaturesand delivering them at a predetermined level, comprising means forvarying the length of the hanger, a measuring stick of materialsubstantially unaffected by the range of temperature to which it issubjected, said measuring stick being the length it is desired tomaintain the hanger and disposed to be in parallel relation with thehanger when it is moving to a predetermined level at Which it is toreceive or deliver articles, and means disposed to be actuated by themeasuring stick if it and the hanger are not of the same length toinitiate the operation of the means for varying the length of thehanger.

l2. A compensating device for apparatus provided With members whichchange in size with changes in temperature, comprising means foradjusting the member that changes in size, a measuring member which issubstantially unaffected by the changes in temperature, said measuringmember being disposed for movement by the member Which changes in size,the movement of said measuring member depending on the size of thevariable member, and means disposed to be actuated by the measuringmember for adjusting said variable member.

13. A compensating device for apparatus provided With members whichchange in size With changes in temperature, comprising means foradjusting the member which varies in size with changes in temperature,means disposed to move the said member and in fixed relation to itsconnection to the apparatus, measuring means actuated by the memberwhich varies in size, the movement of the measuring means depending onthe size of the variable member, and means for actuating the adjustingmeans, the operation of said actuating means depending on the relativepositions between the member xed relative to the connection of thevariable means and the measuring means.

14. In combination, a plurality of horizontal conveyors disposed atdiiferent levels, an elevator for transferring articles from oneconveyor level to another, a heating chamber disposed in the path of thearticles, said elevator having parts exposed to heating in said chamber,and means for compensating for expansion or contraction of said elevatorparts upon heating or cooling to maintain accurate registry of theelevator with a conveyor. Y

l5. In combination, a plurality of horizontal conveyors disposed atdifferent levels and adapted to convey articles through heat treatingchambers, an elevator for transferring articles from one conveyor levelto another and having parts subjected to varying temperature eifects,and means for compensating for changes in size of said elevator partsupon heating or cooling to maintain accurate registry of the elevatorwith a conveyor.

OTTO E. UECK'ER.

